KUCHING: A former police officer turned politician has made startling revelations of widespread illegal gambling activities and readily available narcotics in Sarawak.
MP for Santubong Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he had received several letters from people, who are unknown to him, tipping him off on drug trafficking and gambling activities in the state.
“I’ve received half a dozen of letters from unknown persons informing me about illegal gambling joints and drug distribution in Sarawak, particularly in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
“Some of these people say drugs are readily available and easier to get,” he told New Sarawak Tribune, earlier today.
A concerned Junaidi said he met a friend who did not seem surprised when he revealed the contents of the letters to him.
“Two week ago I attended a Chinese New Year function where I met a friend and confided in him about the letters I have been receiving.
“He seemed to confirm the allegations in the letters. From the brief conversation that we had, it seemed quite obvious that the distribution of narcotics was openly done in Kuching and Samarahan,” he said.
Junaidi said he had written to the Commissioner of Police requesting him to investigate the allegations.
“My letter to the commissioner was accompanied by the letters of alleged rampant gambling and drug distribution in the state.
“No sooner had these letters reached the commissioner than I received another two from unknown persons claiming the existence of more illegal gambling outlets and drug trafficking,” he said.
Recently, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said Sarawak had the highest number of secondary school students found positive for drugs nationwide as at October 2018.
From an inspection of urine screenings at 191 schools in high-risk areas, 301 students were found positive for drugs.
Among the high-risk areas were Gita, Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Most of these students were addicted to methamphetamine.
On gambling, Junaidi, a former assistant superintendent of police, said he was aware that police had been pushing for existing gambling laws and legislations to be amended as well as more gambling experts to be trained to assist police in their fight against illegal gambling problems.
“Six legislations were proposed to be amended in 2013, but all the six amendment bills were withdrawn after the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I was thinking then that the proposed amendments were a welcome change to replace the outdated, lenient and incomplete laws of the 60s and 70s to give more clout to the police and related enforcement agencies to curb illegal gambling.
“But after the bills were withdrawn, they were not heard of any more. I am not sure whether the police force in Sarawak here is handicapped antiquated gambling laws and legislations,” he said.
Junaidi felt the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs should assume the responsibility of amending these laws.
